UNIT BMX rider Kyle Baldock stamped his name in X Games folklore history over the weekend in Foz Do Iguaçu, Brazil, by becoming one of the few athletes ever to win two gold medals at the prestigious world-series action sports event. On his return to Aussie shores we sat down with the new X Game Dirt and Park champion to talk about his wins, the struggles he faced beforehand, and what he learned from riding against the best BMX riders on the planet.

Kyle, congratulations on the double gold haul at X Games Foz, what’s the secret behind the wins: Ha, thanks, good question. I kind of relate it to my early days in BMX when you’d rock up to a comp with the shittiest bike and gear, you don’t really care, and you end up doing well because you’re just focused on your riding and not making excuses because everything’s not perfect. I think at X I just found that happy place, like when you start to expect everything has to be perfect, from the course to bike, etc, you start to lose what’s real and you blame every little thing that goes wrong with your equipment, when in reality all your competitors have to ride the same course and the winner is usually the person who removes himself from making excuses for the way he is riding and is 100 per cent in the zone and enjoying what he does best.

Kyle Baldock on his way to winning his second gold medal in BMX Dirt. Photo: Nick Pescetto/UNIT

Heading into X Game Foz you were struggling with a wrist injury and the concussion you sustained at Simple Session, how did you cope: During practice I was really struggling with the Park course until the last day; I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t physically trick the Box, just wasn’t dialing in the course. As for my wrists I just rode through it, although I did two runs in a row and landed a little flat and it smashed me, then I took a step back and remembered what my girl Honey told me before leaving for Brazil, which was to take the time to study what the other riders were doing and what tricks where, and ride smart instead of just trying to huck the biggest tricks on certain parts of the course, like I did in X Games L.A 2012. This time I didn’t make the same mistake and I also worked on changing my runs every time, which helped.

Then you backed it up in Dirt, talk us through that: Right after finishing Park I got swamped with interviews for ESPN, which is part of the deal with winning gold, but it gave me little time to prepare for the Dirt contest next up. In my first run I did a Flip Bar No Hander over the first set, then a 450 Bar and a Seven No Hander at the end, and got an 88.33. Personally I thought this was my best run because I’d never done a Seven No Hander in competition before, and I was super stoked I pulled it first go, but it didn’t score that high. My next run I tried a different approach and it worked in my favour and scored a 92, and set the mood for the rest of my runs and the rest is history.

 
Kyle with second placed finisher in Park Pat Casey. Photo: Nick Pescetto/UNIT 

How was the Brazilian crowd: The crowd filled the stands for Dirt more than any other sport and they went nuts at the end of every run. They want your helmet, gloves, signature, it was crazy! When I talked to ESPN I was like, ‘You have to bring back dirt in X GAMES forever!’

What was the reaction like after you won your second gold medal, and what did you learn from the event: Everyone surrounded me after my final run in Dirt and rider’s I’ve looked up to for years were congratulating me and giving me props on my runs. It was so cool as I later found out the last person to win double gold at X Games was Kevin Robinson in 2006. The biggest thing I learned at this X Games was I need to work on my fitness more, spend more time swimming in the pool to build up my cardio. I was a lot better in Park this year compared to last, but it was so hot and a lot of riders really struggled. I know I can do all the tricks, but pumping in and out of the bowls is really hard on your legs and body so I want to make sure I’m on top of my fitness for future events to make sure I can pull all of my big tricks on tap.

When did the fact you won two gold medals sink in: Everything happened so fast it didn’t hit me until I was doing an interview a while after the Dirt comp for ESPN. It’s like winning the first gold was amazing, then the second felt surreal, like a smack in the face; is this a dream? Getting those two gold medals helps you understand winning, gives you that deep belief in yourself you can do it again. 

• By Goba

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Unit MTB rider Benny Phillips has had a tough trot with injury over th elast 12-months, but as you'll read he is well on the way to getting back his A-Game on. Benny talks us through where he's at. 

 

"Hey guys, thought I'd drop a few lines to let everyone out there know what I've been up to in my time off, how my recovery has been and whats in store for me now that I'm back on the bike.

 

So, as some of you may know, I broke my leg and ankle in June of last year. It was a long recovery process but that was overcome. After multiple surgeries, endless physio and rehab sessions I was given the all-clear to get back on the bike. So what do I go and do? Break my foot! I ended up having surgery the next day and had a plate and five screws added to my "bionic leg". Hopefully with all these pins, screws, and plates put in, it will be a bit harder to break in the future!

 

 

The recovery process for this last break was very tedious due to the complication and location of the break. I had do put my head down and go the hard yards with the recovery. I recently have started riding again, am feeling stronger on the bike every day, and I nearly have the majority of my tricks back and can't wait to get back 110% so i can film an edit!

 

As for the rest of the year I aim to stay injury free, film an edit or two, hit a few Gold FMB events in June/July and of course Crankworx.

 

Peace, Benny"

• By Goba

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UNIT all-round two-wheeled action sports legend Andreu Lacondeguy recently spent a month Down Under shredding trails, stomping dirt hits on both moto, mountain bike and BMX, surfing, partying, and basically just having the time of his life! Now back in his hometown of Barcelona, Spain, we caught up with the wild man to chat about some of the experiences that stand out in his mind from what he calls “A trip of a lifetime!”

Farm Jam, I showed up there with my filmer Nick Pescetto, we’d never been to New Zealand before, and first thing I see is the farm, the jumps on the freeride FMX course and a Yamaha YZ250 waiting for me. From that moment on it was three days of fun riding moto, MTB and BMX up to six hours a day with all the other riders, yeah that was one of my favourite parts of the trip right there!

Freeride jumps, that was definitely a little scary at the beginning because I’d never hit jumps like those before and the bike I was riding had stock suspension and one that I wasn’t used too. I had a few close moments, but I think out of all the events the freeride session was one of my favourite parts of Farm Jam because it was new to me and it was so good riding with all the guys hitting those big dirt hits, so sick!

The BMX Jam at Farm Jam was another favourite because 10-minutes before the comp started I wasn’t going to ride, but someone gave me a bike and I was super-chilled after finishing FMX and MTB so I just cruised the trails not doing many big tricks, but just watching everybody throw down and being a part of those crazy trains was so fun. I hadn’t ridden BMX for a long time before that session and it felt so good to be out there riding with the crew.

Three disciplines, I’ve done it before at Masters Of Dirt shows, but there you only do two moto, BMX, and MTB runs and you’re done, like only 10 jumps per night. At Farm Jam I was riding six hours straight without a break, competing in moto then MTB then BMX, and I was for sure tired at the end of the day and had a few dizzy spells after my BMX runs, but it was so sick!

Queenstown, NZ, I’d heard a lot of good things about Queenstown before going there and as soon as we hit the town I was amazed by the location, mountains, people, burgers, lake, sick trails, some of the best dirt jumps I’ve ever seen. Riders coming from all over the world to ride Red Bull Roast It, and after a week I didn’t want to leave.

Red Bull Roast It was so sick, showing up to those jumps I didn’t even have my BMX with me so I was just borrowing bikes from everyone and sessioning the trails every afternoon with the riders was super fun, priceless!

BBQ’s at the Red Bull house was another highlight, like we were staying in this insane mansion on top of the hill looking over the lake watching sunsets, drinking beer, after full days of riding. Yeah that was a favourite part of my trip knowing that after riding all day you’d be hanging on that deck with a good bunch of mates with the BBQ cranked. I cooked a little but I’m not much of a chef!

Airports were a big part of our trip. Flying from Barcelona in Spain to Australia and then to New Zealand we crossed the globe, and throw in three bikes, dirt-bike parts, clothes for a month, helmets, camera gear, packs, it gets expensive man! We had some trouble with customs in New Zealand because we were going there for a holiday, but also for a comp, so we didn’t know what to say, but somehow we managed to talk our way through it all, crazy times!

Different types of riding, like I think this trip is the first time I’ve ridden everything I’d ride back home, from BMX and MTB dirt jumps, downhill trails and freeride jumps, enduro, moto, FMX, freeride FMX, all in one trip is so sick, and why I think this has been one of my best trips ever man!

We surfed a little bit in Oz and checked out the Quicksilver Pro while there, which was great. We managed to get a few hours in the surf over a few days, and we sucked, it was crazy hard man, especially when there are a hundred people in the water around you! But yeah we loved it man, best trip ever, and we’ll be back again next year for sure! Ends.

  

• By Goba

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French freestyle star Tom Pages has been voted Best International Freestyle Motocross Rider by the international FMX community. Garnering 35.3% of the vote, he was a clear winner over second-placed Levi Sherwood (NZL, 23.7%). Pages also picked up the Best European FMX Rider award, another of the major accolades being contested. Only in the Best FMX Trick Innovation category did Tom Pages have to settle for second place, his "Special Flip" edged out by the "Rock Solid Backflip" of Taka Higashino.

The users also voted Higashino Best Asian FMX Rider, putting him on a par with Pages with two first places to his name. 

 

As in 2011, Nate Adams was named Best American FMX Rider. On the other side of the globe Josh Sheehan took Best Australian FMX Rider.

 

Tom Pages 540 Flair at Red Bull X-Fighters in Mexico. Photo: B.Gardi/Red Bull

 

The Red Bull X-Fighters grabbed the title of FMX Series of the Year, with runner up the NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship. Best FMX motorbike in 2012 was the Yamaha YZ 250, for the third year in a row. Finally, most votes in the Best FMX Website category went to fmxworld.com.

 

The FMX Awards were created by the Berlinièros Sports Agency in 2006. The awards recognise outstanding performances by FMX riders in the previous season. 

 

An independent international jury of experts draws up a shortlist of five riders in each category, with the winners decided by the users.

 

 

All categories and winners are listed below:

 

Category        Winner:

Best International FMX Rider Tom Pages (FRA)

Best European FMX Rider Tom Pages (FRA)

Best American FMX Rider Nate Adams (USA)

Best Australian FMX Rider Josh Sheehan (AUS)

Best African FMX Rider Alastair Sayer (BOT)

Best Asian FMX Rider        Taka Higashino (JAP)

Best German FMX Rider Hannes Ackermann GER)

Best South American FMX Rider Javier Villegas (CHL)

Best Female FMX Rider Emma McFerran (AUS)

Best International FMX Rookie Erick Ruiz (MEX)

Best European FMX Rookie Luc Ackermann (GER)

Best German FMX Rookie Luc Ackermann (GER)

Best FMX Series / Event Red Bull X-Fighters

Best FMX Bike         Yamaha YZ 250

Best Trick Innovation         Rock Solid Backflip – Taka Higashino (JAP)

Best FMX Website www.fmxworld.com

 

Best International FMX Rider
Tom Pages (FRA) 35.3%
Levi Sherwood (NZL) 23.7%

Josh Sheehan (AUS) 14.7%
Taka Higashino (JAP) 13.5%
Dany Torres (ESP) 12.8%

Best European FMX Rider
Tom Pages (FRA) 48.5%
Dany Torres (ESP) 25.7%

David Rinaldo (FRA)         11.8%

Libor Podmol (CZE)  8.1%
Remi Bizouard (FRA)          5.9%

 

Best American FMX Rider
Nate Adams (USA) 35.6%
Adam Jones (USA) 28.0%
Mike Mason (USA) 12.9%

Todd Potter (USA) 12.1%
Wes Agee (USA)         11.4%

Best Australian FMX Rider
Josh Sheehan (AUS)      43.2%

Jackson Strong (AUS)       22.4%

Clinton Moore (AUS)       16.8%

Cameron Sinclair (AUS)       12.8%
Rob Adelberg (AUS)        4.8%

Best African FMX Rider
Alastair Sayer (BOT)        47.3%
Nick de Wit (RSA) 36.1%
Brendan Potter (RSA)         6.2%
Colin Stanton (RSA)         5.2%

Stewart Couper (RSA) 5.2%

 

Best Asian FMX Rider
Taka Higashino (JAP)         49.0%
Aleksey Koleshnikov (RUS) 30.4%
Eigo Sato (JAP)         16.6%
Daice Suzuki (JAP)          4.0%
Kota Kugimura (JAP)          0.0%

Best German FMX Rider
Hannes Ackermann 49.6%

Luc Ackermann          26.5%

Fabian Bauersachs   8.8%
Lukas Weis           8.8%
Kai Haase           6.3%

Best South American FMX Rider
Javier Villegas (CHL)          75.9%
Fred Kyrillos (BRA)   9.5%
Gabriel Villegas (CHL)   8.8%

Marcelo Simoes (BRA)   2.9%
Gilmar Flores (BRA)           2.9%

Best Female FMX Rider
Emma McFerran (AUS) 58.9%
Jolene van Vugt (CAN) 31.6%
Mary “Scary” Perkins (NZL)   6.1%
Heather Williams (USA)   3.5%

Best International FMX Rookie
Erick Ruiz (MEX)         37.3%
Luc Ackermann (GER) 24.1%
David Rinaldo (FRA)         18.7%
Wes Agee (USA)         13.3%
Tyrone Gilks (AUS)   6.6%

Best European FMX Rookie
Luc Ackermann (GER) 42.1%
David Rinaldo (FRA)         38.6%
Jeremy Rouanet (FRA)   8.8%
Maxime Gregoire (FRA)   7.0%
Thomas Wirnsberger (AUT)   3.5%

Best German FMX Rookie
Luc Ackermann 64.2%
Tobias Finck 17.4%
Kai Haase 12.9%
Tobias Seibert   5.5%

Best FMX Contest/Series
Red Bull X-Fighters 48.7%
NIGHT of the JUMPs 17.6%

Nitro Circus 16.2%
X Games 14.9%
Nuclear Cowboyz 2.6%

Best FMX Bike

Yamaha YZ 250 32.6%

KTM 250 SX 28.8%

Honda CRF 450 20.5%

Kawasaki KFX 450 10.6%

Suzuki RM 250   7.5%

 

Best FMX Website

fmxworld.com 42.2%

forty8.com 20.3%

nightofthejumps.com 19.5%

freeridermx.com.au 11.7%

XGames.com/EXPN.com  6.3%

 

Best FMX Trick Innovation
Rock Solid Backflip – Taka Higashino 35.5%
Special Flip – Tom Pages 34.6%
Front Flip One Hand – Jacko Strong 18.9%
Flair One Hand – Tom Pages   7.1%

The Roulette – Jey Rouanet   3.9%

 

 www.fmxawards.com

• By UNIT

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UNIT moto rider Kyle Peters turned more than a few heads at the weekend's Indy round of the Monster Energy AMA SX series by finishing second in the 250cc class. Kyle, a privateer battling a strong field of factory riders couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he stood on the podium between winner Marvin Musquin and Will Hahn, the first time he has had the honour, and with the way he is riding it surely won't be the last! 

But who is Kyle Peters many ask? 

 

Kyle is a 19-year-old Southern Gentlemen from Georgia who has a very bright future ahead of him. He is UNIT Clothing's first 250cc rider to grace  the podium, and the highest finisher for the brand in AMA Supercross to date. 

A privateer finishing second behind Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin, and in front of 250 East points leader, factory Honda's Will Hahn, is a very big deal. 

 

 

Kyle's success over the weekend  has not come easy. Unit has supported KP#50 since his A-class days as a Yamaha amateur rider. Factory Yamaha picked him up when he turned pro two years ago, but since then the stand out Am rider has had a string of bad luck and injuries, and was not able to live up to his full potential in the pro ranks he showed as one of Americas top amateurs, and was not able to finish a full season of SX/MX while on factory Yamaha.
 

When Yamaha did not renew his contract at the end of outdoors in 2012 Kyle and his dad decided to buy a few Hondas and get to work on the 2013 SX/MX season. 

 

Kyle lives and trains at one of the top facility’s in America , MTF in Georgia, headed up by Coleen Millsap’s.
 

KP also wanted to get back to wearing Unit, the  company that backed him before he turned pro. Kyle came back to the Unit family as soon as he had the chance, support and a relationship he wants to build on for 2013 and beyond. 

 

Kyle has had opportunity’s and offers from factory support teams for this season, but instead decided to stick to his program he and his dad have put together and the results have come together so far in 2013 finishing inside the top 10 in all of the East Coast rounds this year except one race, including a fourth place at the first round in Dallas.

 

Kyle looks to  carry that momentum into Toronto Canada this weekend wearing a new Unit helmet sporting the southern colours of his hometown Atlanta Braves. 

 

Keep an eye out for this kid! 

 

Between KP and Austin Politelli in the lights class the future looks bright in AMA SX/MX for the UNIT brand alongside the 450 big Guns Josh Grant and Chiz, who plan to be back when the outdoor season kicks off.

• By UNIT

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Tpm Pages perfectly executes a One Handed Flair off the quarter ramp. Photo: B.Gardi/Red Bull

UNIT rider Tom Pages had a capacity crowd gasping in disbelief with his electrifying freestyle motocross tricks en route to winning the Red Bull X-Fighters season opener in Mexico City’s rarified atmosphere.

MEXICO CITY – Tom Pages of France won the opening round of the 2013 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour on Friday with a thrilling FMX performance in the high altitude of Mexico City, beating Dany Torres of Spain in an action-packed final to the delight of 38,000 enthusiastic spectators.

Defending tour champion Levi Sherwood of New Zealand took third place in the Monumental Plaza de Toros bullring in the first of six stops on four continents.  


Tom Pages is changing the direction of the sport with his innovation. P.Vuckovic/Red Bull

Returning to the FMX hotbed of Mexico City for the first time since 2010, 11 of the world’s best riders completed breathtaking jumps of up to 15 meters high and 30 meters in distance over a mound of dirt piled 13 meters high in the center of the cavernous bullring.

At an altitude of 2,240 meters/7,350 feet, Mexico City’s thin air robbed the engines of horsepower and forced the riders in the world’s most prestigious FMX tour to make adjustments. Mexico’s colourful bullfighting traditions were kept alive throughout the evening. Pages also won the Swatch Best Move award with his Special Flip. It was the second career victory for Pages and an emotional triumph for the effervescent Frenchman, who was wearing a jersey with the Eigo Sato’s name on it as a tribute to the Japanese FMX athlete who sustained fatal injuries in a training accident last month in Japan.


The Plaza De Torros stadium in Mexico City provided incredible atmosphere. J.Mitter/Red Bull

Pages nailed three difficult tricks – Special Flip off the seat of his bike, the Volt that left him spinning in mid-air and the Flair -- turning 540 degrees in mid-air “I don’t know if this will be my year or not. I’ll keep practicing and try to learn new tricks,” he said modestly.

The next Red Bull X-Fighters stop is in Dubai (UAE) on April 12. Event info www.redbullxfighters.com


Tom Pages rode with the late Eigo Sato's jersey to pay respect for his good friend who passed away a week earlier training for the opening round. Photo: J.Mitter/Red Bull

Results: 1. Thomas Pages (FRA), 2. Dany Torres (ESP), 3. Levi Sherwood (NZL) 4. Rob Adelberg (AUS), 5. Josh Sheehan (AUS), 6. Maikel Melero (ESP), 7. Todd Potter (USA), 8 . Truman Caroll (AUS), 9. Erick Ruiz (MEX), 10. Martin Koren (CZE)

• By UNIT

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From left Kyle Baldock, Andreu Lacondeguy, Nick Franklin, three UNIT riders who dominated Farm Jam 2013. Photo: Nichola Pescetto.

THREE RIDERS FROM three different countries stood on the top step of the podium after an incredible day of riding at the 2013 NZ Farm Jam on Saturday. UNIT BMX rider Kyle Baldock, Australia, UNIT MTB rider Andreu Lacondeguy, Spain, and UNIT FMX rider Nick Franklin, New Zealand all walked away with top honours, in a day that saw every aspect of the iconic action-sports event elevate to a whole new level.

In front of a vocal, 2000-strong crowd, Baldock went blow-for-blow with the likes of fellow Australians Luke Parslow, Danny Campbell, Ryan Lloyd and American legend Anthony Napolitan through the flowing dirt-jump lines. It seemed each time the riders dropped into the trails the level ratcheted up a notch as they threw some of the biggest tricks in the book, climaxing with Baldock stomping a Double Backflip over the biggest jump in the course and a Front-flip Cliffhanger. “I’m so pumped just to be back at the Farm Jam,” Baldock said afterwards. “I had such a great time last year and couldn’t wait to return. Everyone rode so amazing; the level of riding, the atmosphere and the course were spot-on. I love this place.”

Kyle Baldock with a masive 720 over the biggest dirt jump on the Farm Jam course

Tokoroa’s Nick Franklin returned to the Frew Farm for his third crack at the Farm Jam FMX title and finally emerged victorious over the revamped contest. With 50 per cent of the riders’ scores accumulated at a media-only freeride session on Friday, Franklin finished second to Australia’s Matt Schubring on the natural terrain, then dominated the Farm Jam FMX course to claim his first Farm Jam crown.

Schubring was forced to sit out the FMX contest after injuring his hand while returning from the freeriding comp and lost his chance of victory as a result. “It feels really satisfying to win my first Farm Jam after so many attempts,” Franklin says. “I’ve had my fair share of bad luck here over the years, and even though this was my first contest on a 450cc bike, I felt comfortable enough to push it a bit more. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

Kiwi Nick Franklin proved strongest in both the freeride and FMX contests

In the mountainbike contest, Spanish freeride legend Andreu Lacondeguy dropped everyone’s jaws with his incredible style and huge trick repertoire. Lacondeguy, who also competed in both the FMX and BMX contests, showed his true class as he toppled defending champion Connor Macfarlane. “The Farm Jam is the most fun I’ve ever had at a contest,” Lacondeguy beamed. “The amount of riding we do is insane and the courses are so sick. I love it here, man. I’m definitely coming back, for sure.”

Andreu Lacondeguy rode three contests in one day and ripped in them all!

Farm Jam organisers Dan and Brett Frew voiced their excitement at the success of the 2013 installment. “I’m certain the riding that the crowd saw today would have to be the highest level that’s ever been shown in New Zealand,” Brett says. “There were so many talented international and local riders and as a result the riding across both BMX and MTB was above and beyond anything I’ve seen before.” “The new freeride FMX contest format was a huge success for the moto guys and added another dimension to what was already a popular competition,” Dan explained. “The FMX riders put on an awesome show at the Jam, too. When 360s get thrown off dirt for the first time ever and riders flip jumps that have never been flipped before, you know the competition is running hot.”

The 2013 Farm Jam event has been the most successful to date, bring on 2014!

For more information and updates about the 2013 NZ Farm Jam and to stay in the loop for the 2014 event, “Like” Southern Freeriders and Farm Jam 2013 on Facebook or visit www.southernfreeriders.blogspot.com

RESULTS: BMX: 1 Kyle Baldock (AUS), 2 Luke Parslow (AUS), 3 Danny Campbell (AUS), 4 Anthony Napolitan (USA), 5 Ryan Lloyd AUS).

FMX: 1 Nick Franklin (NZ), 2 Tyrone Gilks (AUS), 3 Pat Bowden (AUS), 4 Callum Shaw (NZ), 5 Joel Brown (AUS).

MTB: 1 Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP), 2 Connor Macfarlane (NZ), 3 Lewis Jones (NZ), 4 Phil McLean (NZ), 5 Nick Dethridge (NZ).

Farm Jam Gallery

Matt Schubring killed it in the freeride contest, but injured his hand and couldn't take place in the FMX contest.

Kiwi Kelly McGarry crashed executing a 360 in practice and injured his neck, he still came out for the crowd in ran a few lines

UNIT rider Joel Brown stepped up in the FMX contest to claim fifth overall

UNIT rider Matty Lewis rode solid in both contests and learned a lot from his first natural terrain riding experience, he finished eighth overall

UNIT BMX rider Jake Prebble ripping the Farm Jam course

Andreu Lacondeguy showing his skill on the freeride course with a One Handed Superman

Kyle Baldock blew the crowd away at Farm Jam 2013

• By UNIT

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Conner MacFarlane Front Flipping into the course at last years Farm Jam event

SOME OF THE biggest names in two-wheeled action sports have begun converging on a 2,600-acre farm near Winton in New Zealand’s South Island for the 2013 Farm Jam on Saturday.

Organisers Dan and Brett Frew have been working around the clock to ensure the three freestyle motocross, mountain-bike and BMX dirt jump courses are primed and ready to be hammered by hundreds of pairs of wheels.

Rider and media interest has been at an all-time high for the 2013 edition of the unique action-sports contest, with the organisers still fielding calls and emails from parties interested to either ride or cover the day.

“We’ve been absolutely blown away with the level of interest we’ve received this year,” says Dan Frew. “We’re going to have athletes from the US, Spain, the UK, and a huge contingent from Australia competing against New Zealand’s best riders. We’re very excited to witness the action that goes down on Saturday.”

UNIT rider Andreu Lacondeguy is keen to go big on the dirt hits at NZ's Farm Jam

One of the biggest additions to this year’s contest is Spaniard Andreu Lacondeguy. While he is known as an amazing MTB freerider, Lacondeguy will also compete in the BMX and FMX contests. He will be the first rider in action-sports history to contest all three disciplines.

“It’s going to be amazing to watch Lacondeguy go nuts in all three competitions,” Brett Frew says. “We’ve never had someone cross-over like this and it’s going to create a lot of interest.”

Other high-profile international athletes currently in transit to take on New Zealand’s best riders include three-time X Games BMX champion Corey Bohan, X Games medallist Anthony Napolitan, and Australian FMX legends Matt Schubring and Tyrone Gilks.

Current X Games champion Corey Boahn will make his first appearance at Farm Jam in 2013

The 2013 NZ Farm Jam will be held on Saturday 23 February at 738 Otapiri Gorge Rd, Winton, New Zealand. Gates open at 11am with the action running from 1pm to 6pm.

Entry is $25 for adults and $15 for children between 5 and 12. Family passes (two adults and two children) are available for $60. No glass or dogs are permitted on the property and there will be food and merchandise available at the event.

For more information and updates, “Like” Southern Freeriders and Farm Jam 2013 on Facebook or visit www.southernfreeriders.blogspot.com

About the Farm Jam
The Farm Jam began in 2008 on the Frew brothers’ 2,600-acre sheep farm in Otapiri Gorge, Southland, NZ. From its humble beginnings it has rapidly grown into a bucket-list event for two-wheeled action-sports athletes, attracting some of the world’s biggest names in BMX, FMX and MTB. The “jam” formats see each sport judged solely by the riders, with significant emphasis placed on judging riders from other disciplines. Thousands of spectators flock to the highly-anticipated annual event.

• By Goba

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